stone

Stag Inn Shooting

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A long series of tit-for-tat shootings of pubs and clubs continued into the summer of 1976, with attacks on the Chlorane (June 5th), Walkers (June 25th), the Ramble (July 2nd), the Whitefort (July 29th), and then, on the 30th, The Stag at Shaws Bridge, Belfast, by the Republican Action Force (PIRA) (Sutton). John McCleave, John McKay, and James “Jimmy” Doherty died on the night of the attack, and Thompson McCreight died of his wounds nine days later. The memorial to them – “erected by the local communities” – is on Milltown Road, next to the Dreamscheme (web) mural.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07902 X07901 X07900

Continuing Conflicts

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The war memorial garden in City Way (Sandy Row) commemorates those from the Great War, World War II, and “Continuing Conflicts” which includes the “Troubles”. There is also a fourth, smaller, stone, with John Maxwell Edmonds’s memorial epitaph.

“The Great War 1914-1918: In memory of the fallen”, with John McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields‘.
“Second World War 1939-1945: Freedom is the sure possession of those have the courage to defend it. Their ideal is our legacy. Their sacrifice is our inspiration.”
“Continuing Conflicts: We remember those who have given their lives. The wounded and those who serve in continued conflicts around the world.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07530 X07529 X07528 X07533 X07534

A Great Feeling Of Love

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality” – Che Guevara Lynch. The INLA’s Kevin Lynch died in the second hunger strike after 71 days. He is buried in Dungiven, where this memorial sits on the main road between Derry and Maghera.

“I ndíl [ndıl] chuımhne ar Óglach Kevin Lynch a fuaır bás ar staılc ocraıs ar son saoırse, 1ú Lúnasa 1981 [who died on a hunger strike for freedom, 1st August 1981]. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07481 X07385 X07384 X07386 X07387

Against The Terrorist Threat In Ulster

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The original cairn commemorating three part-time members of the UDR (which can be seen in Carrickfergus RIR/UDR) – Henry Russell, Steven Carlton, and Walter Kerr – was replaced by a new obelisk in 2017. The medal in the middle is the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, which was awarded to the entire RIR and UDR in 2006. (The UDR was merged with the RIR to form the Royal Irish Regiment in 1992.) (Video of the launch.)

Cyril Smith was a Catholic from Carrickfergus and a Royal Irish Ranger. The original cairn in his memory tells the story of his death at age 21 in 1990. For commentary, see this Irish Times piece.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07376 X07375 Marine Gardens

Virtute Et Opera

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Clifton House was originally opened in 1774 as a poor house run by the Charitable Society. The extensions were badly needed by the growing city when they were opened in 1872 (BCS). The funding came from brothers Edward and George Benn. “This and the corresponding wing were erected by Edward Benn Esq. of Glenravel House and presented to the Belfast Charitable Society 1872.” Glenravel estate was in the Antrim glens; there used to be a Glenravel Street just west of Clifton House (where the motorway now is).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06641

Idols Of The Tribe

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A holy trinity of Liverpool FC flag, the west Belfast “peace” line, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Finn Square, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06645

The People’s Priest

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Edward Daly died in August 2016 and a memorial stone to his memory was quickly erected along Rossville Street, near the spot of Daly’s well-known intervention during Bloody Sunday, trying to lead victim jackie Duddy to safety. The stone was unveiled by two of the people portrayed in the Civil Rights mural in the background – John Hume and Ivan Cooper (Derry Now).

“The Peoples [sic] Priest. This garden of reflection has been dedicated in honor [sic] of the late Bishop Of Derry (Emeritus) Dr. Edward Daly in heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving for the wonderful work for the people of Derry and beyond. Rest in peace. ‘To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means forgiving the unforgivable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.’ Is ceıst deacaır é sın. [That is a difficult question.]”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06375

The Ghosts Of The Martyrs

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In proud and loving memory of all local volunteers, prisoners of war, republican activists and the unsung heroes who died of natural causes having served the cause of Irish republicanism [“sean óglach” on the individual plaques]. Together in unity you formed a bond which gave true meaning to the undefeated risen people. Your deeds of bravery and resistance will never be forgotten by the people of greater St. James’s. In your honour the quest for Irish freedom continues.” With the famous “our steps will be onward” quote from Máire Drumm at an anti-internment rally in Dunville Park on 10th August, 1975 (RN). Coıste Cuımhneacháın Lár Na bhFál/Ard Na bhFeá [Memorial committee of mid-Falls/Beechmount]. For some more of the plaques, see The Unsung Heroes.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05152 [X05153] [X05154] X05155 X05156

We Will Remember Them

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Dozens of boards to local soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division (by the 2016 Committee) have been added to the Mount Vernon memorial garden to the soldiers of the Great War (the mural) and contemporary UVF volunteers (the garden). For the mural, memorial stones, and outside plaque, see At Home And On The Mainland.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06016

Who Went To War And Never Returned

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

It is usually the fourth verse from Laurence Binyon’s poem For The Fallen that is quoted on memorial stones to the fallen of the WWI but here we have the third verse: They went with songs to the battle, they were young/Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow/They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted/They fell with their faces to the foe. The stone commemorates “the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who gave their lives for King and country at the Battle of the Somme 1st July – 18th November 1916”. It is in the garden adjacent to the West Kirk Presbyterian church (Fb) on the Shankill Road. As the image below shows, the garden is also host to many small boards to individual soldier (see previously Among The Fallen | XXXVI | The Sacrifice Remains The Same).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04938 X04747